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Policy Series Reports

State Policies Supporting Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment gives high school students the ability to complete their graduation requirements while concurrently taking college-level courses through a local postsecondary institution. Dual enrollment removes barriers for earning stackable, portable credit for classes taken and decreases tuition prices prior to full postsecondary enrollment. CTE dual enrollment courses give students an alternative to AP courses that, like AP courses, give them an opportunity to gain college-level experience and credit while earning their high school diploma. These credits can be seen as an equal currency of exchange to AP credits, as students gain college credit for each.

Although statistics show that dual enrollment has a positive effect on students, many states do not participate or have weak dual enrollment programs. In states where the cost of college or community and technical courses are not covered by the state government, students are often forced to pay the full tuition for any course they enroll in, or the school districts must pay for these courses on top of the courses they are already providing for students. When schools are forced to pay for students to enroll, this creates a strong disincentive for teachers or school counselors to promote enrollment of their students. Other states, however, have put forward initiatives and financial incentives to promote student enrollment and engage school districts to promote their students to enroll. The following states are examples of promising programs, many spurred by governors or state legislatures: